Splash guard for use on shoe heels



Feb. 14, 1950 c. F. HOOVER ET AL 2,497,09

SPLASH GUARD FOR USE ON SHOE HEELS Filed Jan. 4, 1949 Clarence f. Hoover Jaseph Niss/ey IN V EN TOR-S Patented Feb. 14, 1950 SPLASH GUARD FOR USE ON SHOE HEELS Clarence F. Hoover and Joseph Nissley, Harrisburg, Pa.

Application January 4, 1949, Serial No. 69,094

c'claims. (Cl. arr-:70)

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in what have become to be known as splash shields and guards of a type attachable to the heel of a shoe and, obviously, designed to prevent mud and water from being undesirably splashed, during rainy weather, on the wearers shoes, stockings and adjacent apparel.

As the opening statement of the invention implies, guards used for the same purposes are of,

many and varied forms and usually involve the use of a visor-like apron, which extends rearwardly from and at a suitable angle to the heel and means whereby same is readily applicable and removable. In carrying out the principles of the present invention, we provide a construction which is possessed of appreciable refinements, structural distinctions and other worthy characteristics which, it is submitted, contribute in providing an effective anti-splash guard or shield.

In reducing to practice the preferred embodiment of our anti-splash shield, we provide a resilient U-shaped wire frame whose limbs provide grips and serve to partly hold the shield in place, the shield being of sheet plastic or equivalent substantially waterproof material and being novel in that it is provided around its forward heel conforming edge with a flashing-like rubber or equivalent adapter which facilitates shedding and drainage of water.

Novelty, in addition to the above, is predicated upon the stated protective shield and prop or bracing means associated therewith, the lower portion of the prop having an additional heel grip and the prop including an accommodation spring which allows the prop to take the proper angle in relation to the heel and shield for effectively maintaining the latter in place.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional type shoe with a splash guard, constructed in accordance with this invention, attached to the heel of a shoe.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the antisplash shield removed from the heel.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, the protector shield, as

a unitary part of the assemblage, denoted by the numeral 6 and is constructed to minimize the likelihood of the shoes and stockings being splattered with mud and muddy water while one is walking in the rain or oiiiiiuddy surfaces whether raining or not; As before indicated,

the shield unit is made up or a substantially U-shaped resilient wire whose tight portion is denoted by the numeral ,1 and whose arms or limbs are denoted by" the numerals 8', said arms terminating in suitably shaped eyes 9 which function as grips and are adapted to embrace substantially diametrically opposite side surfaces of the shoe heel A. Incidentally, the shoe is broadly denoted by the reference letter B. A covering of sheet material, plastic, rubber or the like is fitted on and secured tautly to the frame to provide the anti-splash shield Ill. The covering includes extensions or sleeve portions II which substantially enclose the arms 8 and prevent the latter from marring the surfaces of the heel. The forward crotch portion of the covering is fashioned to conform to the general contour of the heel and is provided with a rubber strip of flashing-like form denoted by the numeral I2 and conformable, in practice, to the heel. The surface I3 may be suitably contoured to facilitate draining the collected water from the shield to opposite sides of the heel in a substantially obvious manner.

The brace means referred to is denoted, in a general way, by the numeral I4 and comprises a rigid stub I5 forming the upper portion and a complemental longer section I6. These sections are joined together by an intervening spring I! which constitutes an adapted and allows the part I6 to angle in respect to the part I5 so that the brace means I4 may accommodate heels of different degrees of slant and curvature, etc. The lower end of the prop member I6 terminates in an eye I8 which is connected with a U-shaped heel grip which is springy and denoted by the numeral I9. It comprises a spring wire of U-shaped form 20 and a rubber or equivalent covering 2!. The tension of the end portions is such as to effectively grip opposite sides of the heel. Thus, by having the hinged eye connection between I4 and I9, and the flexible spring connection between I5 and I6, all of the elements are permitted to angle in respect to each other to accommodate changing conditions.

We would stress the provision of a main U- shaped member at the top carrying a covering and providing the shield and an auxiliary U- shaped member at the bottom embracing the heel 'made up of yieldably connected sections.

and an intervening prop-like stabilizer or brace In addition, we stress the provision of the flashing strip I 2 with its curvate surfaces 13 which coact in improving the drainage facilities of the shield 6.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: i

1. In a splatter guard for shoe heels, an apronlike shield including a resilient U-shaped member having springy limbs to partially embrace the heel, the crotch portion of said shield being rounded out to conform to coacting surfaces of said heel, a rubber flashing fitted into said crotch and coacting with the latter in providing an effective seal and assisting in shedding water from the shield, a U-shaped grip adapted to partially embrace a lower portion of said heel, and brace means interposed between and connected with the U-shaped member of said shield and said U-shaped grip, whereby to assemble the shield and grip.

2. In a heel anti-splattering shield attachment of the class described, a shield, a U-shaped grip adapted to partly embrace the heel, and brace means between the U-shaped member and shield embodying coacting members, and a coiled spring connecting adjacent inner ends of the members to one another.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an attachment for a shoe heel, a U-shaped frame having its arms terminating in gripping members, a covering for said frame, and an arcuate flashing strip associable with the covering, a U-shaped heel grip, prop members connected one to the U-shaped frame and the other to the heel grip, and a coiled spring connecting said prop members one to the other.

CLARENCE F. HOOVER. JOSEPH NISSLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 281,589 Great Britain Dec. 8, 1927 654,027 France Nov. 20, 1928 

